Keying relay



July 15, 1947.L R, w MAY KEYING RELAY Filed oct. 2, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M3/15,1947- R. w. MAY Y 2,423,838

KEYING RELAY tional high voltage vacuum switch tubes.

Patented July 15, 1947 KEYING RELAY Richard W. May. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assigner to Collins Radio Company, a corporation of Iowa Application October 2, 1942, Serial No. 460.581

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a keying relay, and more particularly to an improved relay including both high voltage and low voltage switch means operated from a single motor unit.

One feature of this invention is that it provides an improved keying relay for use with a radio transmitter; another feature is that it enables a single means to actuate both high voltage and low voltage switch means simultaneously; yet another feature is that means are provided for adjusting the relationship between at least one of the switch means and the actuating means, more specifically the high voltage switch means; a further feature of this invention is that itprovides a keying relay with high voltage two-way switch means land a plurality of low voltage switching arrangements, at least some of these being two-way; still a further feature of this invention is that it provides a keying relay for radio transmitters requiring less space than those heretofore in use, being more rugged, and being readily and conveniently adjustable to compensate for manufacturing differences in conven- Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following specification and the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a keying relay embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation, also partly in section, of the device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the relay; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the threaded adjustment means; Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the interior of the housing, along the line 6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a side View with the side of the housing removed, along thc line l of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a view similar to 3, but with the front of the housing removed and the switch tube in section; and Fig. 9 is a schematic circuit diagram.

In keying a radio transmitter it is desirable to have the keying action automatically render the receiver operative :during the period when the key is not closed, so that any breakin by v the operator at the other end will be noticed;

acid, mode ceiving and transmitting circuits i. ve .sid nd interlock circuits which should t1 saine time in accordance with tty position. Where all of the circuits to be con# trollen are low voltage circuits, this does not present a particular.y serious problem, although even 4under these conditions the relay must be designed and proportioned to prevent dragging or tailing off of the impulses, to give a good note without key clicks, and the ike. Where only a single aerial 55 is being used, as for example in most aircraft work, the problem is considerably complicated by the necessity of switching the antenna from the radio frequency output network of the transmitter to the input circuits of the receiver, since this switch must control high Voltage, high frequency currents which are diflicult to handle.

High voltage switch means sealed in vacuum tubes and suitable for controlling such circuits are commercially available, but previous relays making use of such tubes have encountered considerabledifilculty in compensating for manufacturing variations when one tube is replaced by another after a period of usage. Moreover, keying relays making use of such tubes have heretofore required a great deal of space, and have been subject to getting out of adjustment when subjected to rough usage. My improved arrangement provides a very compact and rugged keying relay capable of handling a large number oi' low voltage circuits and at least one high voltage circuit, with convenient, efficient and easily us able means for adjusting to compensate for differences in high voltage vacuum switch tubes.

Speaking generally, my relay comprises a housing, in which are located the fixed and movable contacts for the low voltage switch means; a motor unit (of the magnetic type) also in the housing; a high voltage switch tube and socket spaced from the housing, these being carried by an element mounted on the housing and movable with respect to it; and actuating means extending from the housing to make engagement with the operating arm of the switch tube, adjustment being effected by movement of the mounting ele.. ment.

In the particular embodiment of my invention disclosed herewith, a rectangular housing I0 provides a container for the low voltage switch means and the motor, which will be described more fully later. The top of the housing (speaking with respeci: to the position shown in the drawings, which is not necessarily the position of use) has a rotatable actuating shaft Il projecting therethrough, this being of ceramic or other insulating material. The top of the housing also serves as a support for a mounting element I2 here shown as a yoke, although it will be understood that any appropriate shape can be used, it being de sirable that this extend on each side of the shaft. The mounting element i2 is pivotally movable about an axis spaced from but parallel to that of the shaft, this being here provided by the screw i3; and it is limited as to its movement 3 by cooperation between locking studs I4 and I5 and their cooperating slots I6 and Il.

The ends or legs of the mounting element I2 support posts I8 and I9 of vceramic or other irisulating material, these posts lying on each side of the shaft and carrying at their upper end a socket 20. Thisl socket is adapted to receive and grip the base of a high voltage vacuum switch tube here shown as comprising an envelope 2|, fixed contacts 22 and 23, and a movable contact 24 mounted on the end of an operating arm 25. In accordance with conventional practice a portion of the tube envelope comprises a metal diaphragm in the base, and the operating arm projects through this, so that its outer end provides means exteriorly of the tube envelope for moving the contact 24 into engagement with one or the other of the fixed contacts. The fixed circuit element, as the antenna, is connected to the socket by any appropriate means, this providing connection to the movable contact 24; and the transmitter and receiver would be connected to the outer ends of the two fixed contacts 22 and 23.

In order to effect movement of the operating arm, the actuating shaft II carries at its upper end an actuating arm 4I which is forked, at least at the end, to snugly embrace the outer end of the operating arm 2-5. 'This actuating arm, moreover, must have a certain amount of resilience and is here shown as made of two pieces of spring wire lia and Alb. The axis of the actuating shaft is perpendicular to the plane of movement of the operating arm at about the point where it passes through the tube envelope, so that rotation of the shaft moves the actuating arm 4I and the tube operating arm about substantially coaxial centers.

Adjustment of the position of the movable contact 24 with respect to the position of the actuating shaft is accomplished by bodily moving the switch tube and its socket and mounting means. As may be lbest seen in Figures 4 and 5, one of the side walls of the housing carries a threaded adjustment screw 26 cooperating with a nut 27 carried by one leg of the movable element I2, a spring 28 urging the nut away from the housing Wall. When a vacuum switch tube is initially placed in the socket, or when a burned out tube is later being replaced, the screws I3, I4 and I5 are loosened and the tube pushed into the socket until the end of its operating arm lies between the two portions 4Ia and 4Ib of the actuating arm. The screw 26 is then rotated until the movable contact 24 is in engagement with the appropriate contact and with the proper amount of pressure, the actuating arm 4i providing some yield, and then the screws I4 and I5 are tightened to lock the parts in the desired operating arrangement, the screw I3 also preferably being tightened down. Since this latter screw merely provides an axis, it can if desired be tightened down on a spacing bushing about which the movable plate element I2 pivots.

iently and easily made with a screw driver; While the locking arrangement provided by the screws I4 and I5 insures maintenance of the proper adjustment despite shock or vibrations which the relay may encounter in practice.

Referring now more particularly' to Figure 6. 7 and 8, it will be seen that the shaft II carries an armature 29 moved in one direction by the spring 30 and in the other direction by magnetic motor means here shown as coils 3i and 32.

The threaded ad-i,` justing arrangement provided by the screw 261, enables very accurate adjustment to be conven- When the keying relay is first being assembled, the stop screw 33 is adjusted to its proper position, this providing one terminal of movement of the armature while the pole faces of the magnet provide the other terminal. Since the spacing between the fixed contacts of the high voltage switch tube is standard, this need not be subsequently changed, the need for adjustment between the tube and the actuating arm being a result of variations in the position of the projecting portion of the operating arm.

The shaft II also carries with it the low volt- `age movable contacts, these being here shown as a plurality of flexible contact fingers 24a, ub,

34o, 31d, 34e, and 34], of spring metal, these also being mounted on an insulating strip I5. The fixed contact arrangement is here shown as a plurality of what are here being termed lower contacts 38a, 36h, 26e, 26d, and 36e; and two upper (as they are being termed here) contacts Ila and 31D carried by brackets, all of these being mounted on an insulation base strip 28 supported in desired position with respect to the housing by appropriate spacer means 29. The positions of the contacts are being spoken of with respect to their position in Figure 6.

This arrangement provides five lower contacts and two upper contacts operating with the movable contacts carried by the spring fingers, as may be best seen in Figure 9; and two high voltage contacts cooperating with the movable contact in the switch tube. When the motor means is actuated all of the movable members are moved in synchronism from one to the other of their terminal positions. As has been mentioned before, the high voltage switching arrangement switches the antenna from the transmitter to the receiver; and the low voltage switching arrangement grounds the receiver when it is not in use, opens and closes side tone and keying circuits, and, in the particular arrangement here shown, an interlocking circuit forming part of means for tuning the transmitter automatically. When low voltage contacts are spoken of herein it will be understood that this is relative to the antenna voltage, as some of the contacts in the housing may have potentials of 400 or 500 volts between them when they are open.

In assembling the keying relay, all of the various wiring connections are made between the connector box 40 and the other elements; the fixed contact arrangement is mounted on one of the plates forming the housing; all of the motor parts and movable contact fingers are mounted in a frame carried by an end plate of thevhousing and slipped into place; and finally the housing is closed by the plate receiving the connector box 40. This provides a simple and sturdy arrangement with great convenience of assembly. The tube carrying parts would then be mounted on the housing, and a tube inserted in the socket. In the initial adjustment the motor means would be energized and the position of the housing element I2 moved until the movable contact 24 is in engagement with the appropriate fixed contact with the proper amount of pressure; then the motor would be de-energized and the stop screw 33 adjusted to provide the proper contact pressure between the movable contact 24 and the other fixed contact. Thereafter any change in tubes can be accomplished merely by adjustment of the mounting plate I2 and the socket and tube carried by it.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of rnv invention, it is to be understood that it is capable oi' many modications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure byv Letters Patent is:

1. In a. radio keying relay having high voltage switch means and low voltage switch means which must be operated in coordinated relation, the high ,voltage switch means comprising a tube element having switch means sealed therein and an operating arm projecting through the envelope thereof, actuating means including: a housing; motor means in the housing; an element movably mounted on the housing; a socket flxedly mounted on said element and spaced from the housing, the tube being carried by said socket; and a shaft extending from the housing toward the socket, the shaft being movable by the motor means and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the operating arm at about the point where the arm passes through the tube envelope, the shaft carrying a spring member extending therefrom and provided with a forked end snugly receiving said arm.

2. In a radio keying relay having high voltage switch means and low voltage switch means which must be operated in coordinated relation, the high voltage switch means comprising a vacuum tube having high voltage switch means sealed therein and an operating arm projecting through the envelope thereof, actuating means including:A

a housing; motor means in the housing; an element movably mounted on the housing; a socket rixedly mounted on said element and spaced from the housing, the tube being carried by said socket; a shaft extending from the housing toward the socket, the shaft being movable by the motor means and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the operating arm at about the point where the arm passes through the tube envelope; a spring member extending from the shaft provided with a forked end snugly receiving said arm; means providing a point of pivotal movement for the socket-carrying element about an axis parallel to that of the shaft and spaced therefrom on the side opposite thatl on which said arm extends; threaded means for adjusting the position of said element with respect to the housing; and readily releasable means for locking said element in any position to which it may be adjusted.

3. In a radio keying relay having high voltage switch means and low voltage switch means which must be operated in coordinated relation, the high voltage switch means comprising a tube element having switch means sealed therein and an operating arm projecting through the envelope thereof, actuating means including: a housing; motor means in the housing; an element movably mounted on the housing; a socket xedly mounted on said element and spaced from the housing, the tube being carried by said socket; and a shaft extending from the housing toward the socket and carrying means engaging said arm, the shaft being movable by the motor means and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the plane of movement of the operating arm, the axis of the shaft when extended at the top passing closely adja cent to the point where the arm passes through the tube envelope, andthe socket-carrying element being pivotally movable about an axis parallel to that of the shaft and spaced therefrom on the side opposite that on which said arm eXu tends, the free end of the sooket-carrying element having a pair of spaced apart extensions each carrying an insulating post one on each side of the shaft upon which posts the socket is fixed, and means for effecting :tine adjustment of the posi tion of said element and sockel; with relation to the housing and shaft.

RICHARD W. MAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

